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    Royal Exchange

    3.5 (627 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Services - Royal Exchange

    Venue rental

    Royal Exchange Photos

    Business Info

    ROYAL EXCHANGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Loud
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Royal Exchange

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    Exterior
    Anisha Y.

    Fun, lively energy and a cool vibe -- great spot to meet up with people after work. That said, the happy hour was pretty limited and the discounts were minimal. As a vegetarian, I had only four options: rosemary fries (a little too oily), a pretzel with a great honey mustard sauce (my favorite item), hummus and crudité (standard), and an Impossible Burger, which I skipped. A rotating sour was $10, so it's on the pricier side with few options for vegetarians and vegans.

    Menu
    Lyee C.

    There's a few spots for happy hour in FiDi, and Royal Exchange is one of them. It's far from my favorite happy hour spot, and I only head to Royal if the other locations are busy (eg trivia night) as Royal is typically empty. Happy hour has discounts on wine/well drinks/some beers and a couple of appetizers. I wouldn't go here just for the happy hour, but if it's a nice bonus to have discounted prices. Interior is dark, moody with bright TVs showing sports. Most TVs are all fairly high up so watching sports on them is an exercise for your neck. Booth seating around the edge and a huge bar in the middle of the restaurant make it feel like a race track to get around the restaurant. The further in you go away from the windows, the darker it gets. Despite the semi-dark space, service has always been friendly and great whenever I go, with servers checking in on how my party is doing and if we want anything before the end of happy hour/refills from time to time. Ditto with all the bar staff, they've all been great. For this visit, I got pretzel knots for the table to nibble on: fist-sized, hot and great sweet mustard dipping sauce which comes with them. I ordered a Royal Exchange BLT and it was fairly good. Fries were fine, and the BLT was well put together with the exception of a huge hunk of raw onion in both halves. Despite the signs "best burger in San Francisco" I haven't been a fan of the burgers at Royal the two times I've tried them. My friend decided to get the Bull Market Burger (for science) and also agreed with me that they're so-so. Cheese wasn't super melty and flavor was just alright. Royal is okay all around, but doesn't win in any aspect. Not great for the sports on the TV, has a so-so happy hour, and I've found the food a mix of great and just alright. The big plus for me is it always has enough seating pretty much anytime I go here. I recommend it as a safe bet if you're with a group and need to pick a spot which likely has enough room for people to grab a few drinks. A caveat is the minimum is $10 and you can't split the check more than a few ways (forgot the max, but it bit me in the past).

    Chipotle Grilled Chicken Sandwich
    Edlyn C.

    Walked in with my husband for a late lunch. We sat down ordering some drinks while we wait for food. The place seems clean and neat with some background music. The waiter was very friendly and also told us recommendations. As food arrived it was faster than finding street parking outside. Definitely recommend

    Fried Chicken Tenders
    Lilian M.

    If you haven't been to Royal Exchange yet, make sure to snag one of their cozy booths! My colleagues and I settled into one during a rainy evening for dinner, and it was the perfect spot to unwind. Craving something simple, I ordered the fried chicken tenders, and they did not disappoint--crispy, golden, and perfectly fried.

    Inside
    Justin R.

    This gem is perfect for a night out w/ friends, Happy Hour or a quick bite to eat. There are two bars and plenty of open seating including the options of a booth or table. One time I even dropped in here last minute w/ 8 of my coworkers and they were super accommodating. Shoutout to one of their managers or bartenders named Chris. I've dealt w/ him a few times and he's always super friendly, knowledgeable about the menu & wines/beer and makes you feel like "sometimes you want to go where they all just know your name".

    Kathy N.

    Awesome customer service! I can't for the life of me remember my servers name but he has a foodstagram!! He was great with recommendations and checking up on us I ordered the chimi steak sandwich with rosemary fries and it was chefs kiss! I will definitely be back to try it again!

    Nice New England IPA.
    C R.

    I was in town for a conference and wanted a nice bar to have a drink. This place didn't disappoint. They have a solid selection of craft beer.

    Tyson/Paul Nov 15, 2024
    Soccer P.

    This place is run by the nicest group of people ever. We were going to be in neighborhood for a night market and I called to see if they'd be showing the Tyson/Paul "fight". They weren't planning on it since they didn't have Netflix, but said they'd see what they could do. A few hours later they confirmed, and we were able to make it in time to enjoy some drinks and grub for the big show. The bar provides a warm and friendly environment, thanks in large part to the great attitudes of the staff. And despite the "match" being kind of a dud, I'll always remember how accommodating the Royal Exchange was to making it available for us on such short notice. Thank you!

    Buffalo Hot Wings Grilled Salmon Salad French Fries
    Amee T.

    Went to Royal Exchange for a late lunch/ early Happy Hour. Everyone on staff from the bartender to the host to the waiter was very welcoming and hospitable. We took a seat in the window. Loved the ambiance. Definitely had your classic sports bar vibe. TVs visible from every seat but not loud or overwhelming. There was also a good amount of art on the wall with depictions of all our favorite SF teams. Finally the food! Chicken wings were epic! Among the best in the city! So hot, crispy, and we asked for the sauce on the side. They had Buffalo and BBQ to satisfy all taste buds lol. Garlic Parmesan fries were on the HH menu and they did not disappoint. Also had a pretty good sized salmon salad and it had all the flavors! Salmon was cooked very well. Excited to go back when there's a big game on :)

    Lauren T.

    After not being able to get into Schroeder's across the street, my date and I came here. Sure I was disappointed that I wasn't getting a pretzel, but I was surprised by how good the chili dog and French fries were. The fries were hot and crispy and the homemade chili had a lot of flavor. Loved that the service was extremely fast, since we were going to the Oakland A's game across the bay.

    French Fries
    Paolo B.

    If you find yourself looking for a solid weekday happy hour in the Fidi district, Royal Exchange is a solid spot! Happy hour is available Monday-Friday from 2-6pm and has a bunch of $6 specials. Select beers, wines, appetizers, and we'll drinks. For the appetizers, we got the fries which were perfectly crisp and would go great with ranch. The pretzel knots come in an order of 2, they were warm and delicious and came with a mustard dipping sauce. Warm cheese would be hella good with these. Golden Road's Mango Cart is one of my favorite casual drinking beers and it was on their happy hour menu so for $6, that's a good deal for this area of town. They've got plenty of bar seating that wraps around, lots of medium large tables if you come with a big group. Plenty of TVs to watch spots. So, If you are unsure of where to go to take your colleagues for happy hour in this area, this place fits the bill and then some.

    Sliders! Yum!
    Pam M.

    Royal Exchange is the classic pub/bar watering hole in the financial district. I've been coming on & off for years (usually on Fridays after work, before Covid) & it's a great place to watch any sports event as they have a lot of tv screens. They have a modified menu and limited hours while the financial district isn't fully open during Covid but have some pretty good food & drinks. My most recent visit was for a farewell gathering for a former colleague who's relocating and to watch the Warriors game. I had a cheeseburger with garlic rosemary fries. The burger was nice & tasty & fries were crispy. Yum. I washed it down with a cider beer. Service is friendly & helpful.

    Espresso Martini

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    3 years ago

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    Mike O.

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    1 year ago

    Definitely a good place to get a good burger and have a couple of drinks and atmosphere get to watch sports -

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    4 years ago

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    10 months ago

    There food was great the service was great they have professional staff higjly recommend

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    They gave my credit card to the wrong person. Clueless staff, not helpful at all. How does that happen?

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    1 year ago

    My favorite place for lunch / happy hour / meeting / anything. Come here at least once a week. Octavio is like family!

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    5 years ago

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    Michael O.

    Thanks, Frankie! Check your inbox for our personal message.

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    Page 1 of 16

    Royal Exchange Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Royal Exchange

    Will you be showing the British football matches on New Years Day? I'm going to have a friend from Birmingham in town, and he wants to catch some of them someplace festive.

    Hi Lawrence! We are so sorry, but we will be closed on New Years Day for the holiday and return on Monday, January 6th.… Read more

    View All 3 Questions

    The Boardroom - Cranberry Habanero Burger with Sweet Potato Waffle Fries

    The Boardroom

    4.1(514 reviews)
    0.7 miRussian Hill, North Beach/Telegraph Hill
    $$

    The food here was such a huge highlight of our San Francisco trip !! After a long day exploring the…read morecity we overestimated the amount of time we had to go grab clam chowder at boudins. What originally started as a disappointment became a huge blessing once we found the board room. Feet aching, sweaty, and tired we made our way to this bar. Immediately you could tell it's a local favorite, the ambiance was nice and a great spot to people-watch. There was a cup flipping event which was super fun to spectate, along side the rotating pictures of the bar's beloved pooches . We ordered 2 western burgers, 12 count bone-in wings (half bbq, half Hawaiian), and an appetizer of corn dogs, tater tots, bacon Mac & cheese bites, and mozzarella sticks. Later we also added boneless buffalo wings which were so tangy, well-seasoned, and HOT. The western bacon burgers were so delicious, crispy bacon, crispy onion rings, and some bomb.com bbq sauce. The wings were drowned in sauce (just how we like them) , the bbq was to die for and the Hawaiian had the perfect little kick of spice for our picky eaters. The appetizer platter was also fried to perfection, with the perfect crunch on the tater tots & corn dogs. The Mac & cheese bites & mozzarella sticks were perfectly cheesed, with an amazing cheese pull on the mozzarella sticks. Along with the food, my boyfriend and I ordered some drinks. I got a margarita and he got a Guinness. Both drinks were good, very standard and well served. The couple behind the bar were very funny and super kind to us being dazed after all the walking. On our way back down to SoCal my brother is still raving about the burgers, this is a MUST-STOP the next time we come up to San Francisco!!

    Elevated Vibes & Exceptional Hospitality…read more The Boardroom is one of those rare spots that manages to feel both upscale and completely unpretentious. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the sleek, moody ambiance dim lighting, plush seating, and a vibe that says "stay awhile." It's the kind of place where every detail feels intentional, from the curated cocktail list to the smooth jazz humming in the background. But what truly made the night stand out was Adam. He was an absolutely attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. Whether it was recommending the perfect bourbon or just checking in with genuine care, Adam made us feel like VIPs without ever being over the top. You can tell he takes pride in creating a memorable experience. The drinks were expertly crafted (the smoked old fashioned was a standout and don't forget the espresso martini), and the small plates were just as impressive elevated comfort food with a creative twist. If you're looking for a place to unwind, a date, or just treat yourself to a night of great service and even better cocktails, The Boardroom delivers. And if you're lucky enough to be served by Adam, you're in for a five-star experience.

    Photos
    The Boardroom - Sick decor guys

    Sick decor guys

    The Boardroom - Grilled Chicken Club with Sweet Potato Waffle Fries

    Grilled Chicken Club with Sweet Potato Waffle Fries

    The Boardroom - The bar area

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    The bar area

    Waystone - Fries and chicken bites

    Waystone

    4.8(91 reviews)
    0.7 miRussian Hill, North Beach/Telegraph Hill

    We believe in second chances. And by we I mean me, my friends, and Tom…read more We showed up last night and immediately the atmosphere was different. Every single table was full and bustling. The people were laughing, the drinks were flowing. It smelled really good, which we would later find out was from the food especially that Mac and cheese. We started off with different wines, some that Tom recommended based on what we told him we didn't like or did like. He apologized for our previous experience and was genuinely a nice guy. Honestly it's very admirable for a business owner to take feedback to heart and want to incorporate it. Plus he's a really cool guy when you get to know him. The staff was busy running around but still made time to come check on us. Our final verdict is we came on a bad day. This time we got the actual Waystone experience. We finally got to try the chicken bites with a creamy aioli, fries with yogurt sauce, and the star of the show was the Mac and cheese. Tik tok did live up to the hype and we will have to come back for one of their jazz nights. Be warned this place gets busy! But it's worth it.

    Waystone is technically a wine bar, but spiritually it's a community living room disguised as a…read morejazz lounge with snacks. Yes, the wine is excellent..(not selling you 'natural' actively fermenting bottles) thoughtfully curated... the cab franc , interesting without being pretentious. Yes, the bites hit (shoutout to the watermelon salad). But what really makes Waystone magic is the people. Everyone who works here is warm, funny, and present in a way that makes you feel like you belong, whether it's your first visit or your 50th. Live jazz nights here are their own kind of therapy. I once saw a harpist who made me feel like I was floating inside the music. No cover, no pressure, just ridiculously good musicians making the whole place glow. One thing I love: the rotating local art. The walls change every so often as new artists take over, and it completely shifts the energy of the space. You might not love every piece, but that's kind of the point--it's alive, it's personal, and it's supporting real artists in SF. And if you do love something, you can take it home (yep, everything's for sale). Whether you're here for the jazz, the wine, the art, or the people.. waystone shows up with soul. I'd give it six stars if I could.

    Photos
    Waystone - Ribs and Mac and cheese

    Ribs and Mac and cheese

    Waystone - Fries

    Fries

    Waystone - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Old Ship Saloon - breakfast burrito (06/2024)

    Old Ship Saloon

    3.9(480 reviews)
    0.3 miFinancial District
    $$

    We popped into Old Ship Saloon last night for a nightcap after my partner's birthday dinner at…read moreKokkari, a short walk away. Not our first time here, and certainly won't be our last. Great little bar in the FiDi, open late, and serves food late at night which is a huge plus. Even after a celebratory dinner, we couldn't resist getting the quesadilla here again - this place makes one of the best quesadillas I've had. Get it with guacamole, which they fold into the quesadilla. The drinks are good, and reasonably priced, especially for SF. Good selection of beers. When you walk in, you'll feel like you're on the deck of a ship - or like you've had a few too many - because the floor is slanted. Fun place, and draws in the local crowd. See you soon, Old Ship. Probably this weekend, as we continue RB's birthday celebration.

    The day after Valentine's Day. We should have stayed over a 2nd night but early on we decided to…read morego back across the bay. On our way out of town we decided to drop in here to finish of the weekend. It was late so parking was easy. We sat at the bar with only 1 or 2 other people in the whole place. You might think you've already had 7 to many when yoi walk in because years ago during some renovations the floor shifted and is uneven. Mr. Bartender was nice and the drinks were great. I think we shared a quesadilla. I love it when places serve food late at night. The rest of the food menu looked great with several items I'm looking forward to trying. More places need to serve food late at night. We originally thought this was our first time here but soon realized we have been here before multiple times. Prolly other late night stays in SF from when we were here daily. Prior to oir leaving the the bar got busy and multiple tables were filled. The really late night crowd had arrived, in mass. Nice to see after greasy newsom pretty much single handedly devastated the restaurant/bar scene in SF and elsewhere with his illegal draconian policies for a flu like illness that we all now know was delibrate on so many levels. But that's a different story for another time. Great to see this place survived. Like I said we've been here before but have only recalled it once we are in. No more. We talk about this place often and is on our radar to come back again and again.

    Photos
    Old Ship Saloon
    Old Ship Saloon - Pulled pork sandwich

    Pulled pork sandwich

    Old Ship Saloon

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    Splash - Short Rib w/ boursin mashed potatoes, herb roasted carrots, caramelized onions, braising jus ($36) + Garlic Fries ($9)

    Splash

    3.9(155 reviews)
    1.9 miMission Bay
    $$

    Splash has been on our list to check out for a minute, primarily because of some good reviews from…read morefellow Yelpers. We're not in this part of SF often, and neither of us are sports fans by any means, so a mega sports bar might seem like an odd choice, but from the reviews and pics, the spot looked fun. So on our most recent weekend trip to SF to celebrate RB's birthday, we made it a point to visit. This place is HUGE. Located in Chase Center, Splash is a two-story sports bar with TV screens everywhere. I imagine it gets packed out on game days. If you're into sports, this is definitely your happy place. I tried the Splash cocktail, which was very tasty, potent, and not overly sweet. They have a very respectable selection of various beers as well. Food-wise we opted for a couple of their sushi rolls - yes, they have sushi! We tried the Splash Roll and the Chase Heat Roll, both tasty. The food menu is pretty extensive, especially for a sports bar, and includes pizzas, sandwiches, appetizers, sushi rolls, tacos, burgers, and salads. Something for everyone. Service was good, the gentlemen working the bar were nice. The space is clean and well-maintained, and reminds me of bars in Vegas. Fun spot, would return. Cheers!

    -Beautifully decorated high end sports bar. Several areas for talking areas... areas for lots of…read moreparty groups. A few games on site. -Huge, Beautiful screen size tvs, but on the day I went no sound on any of the tvs ?.? -I had a cobb salad, which was fine. - area needing improvement.... staff. They don't have enough staff and I didn't find the service enjoyable. Ie no polish, a bit dismissive. This alone would have taken rating to a 3.5 Beautiful environment, but... -

    Photos
    Splash - The Rec Bar

    The Rec Bar

    Splash - Short rib nachos with a nice bottom layer of tortilla strips

    Short rib nachos with a nice bottom layer of tortilla strips

    Splash - Hendrick's Gin shaken w/ a twist | $18

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    Hendrick's Gin shaken w/ a twist | $18

    Royal Exchange - sportsbars - Updated May 2026

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